No one was safe from maleficium, nor from accusations of practicing magic and consorting with the Devil – not even queens and courtiers. In the History of Witchcraft, we cover everything you need to know about the hunts and trials that cut a bloody swathe across Europe and the American Colonies from the Medieval times to the Early Modern age. Uncover the true stories of the panic and paranoia that swept towns up into hysteria, from accusations at Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England, to the madness of the Salem Witch Trials leading to the execution of 20 people. Find out what tools, ingredients and magical tomes real cunning folk depended on and what concoction could cure stomach ulcers. Investigate the exploits of the notorious Matthew Hopkins, the self-styled Witchfinder General who made it his mission to punish anyone whom he believed to be practising the works of the Devil. Packed with incredible illustrations and insights, this is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to learn about this dark period of history.
WELCOME TO SALEM WITCH TRIALS
All About History Salem Witch Trials
At a glance • What happened in 17th-century Salem Village?
Salem witch trials • The real story behind The Crucible
A village torn apart • There wasn’t a soul in Salem not affected by the witch trials
WHY DID IT HAPPEN? • Here are some of the top theories put forward to explain the outbreak of accusations
DID RIVALRY BETWEEN OLD AND NEW SET THE STAGE FOR ACCUSATIONS?
TIMELINE • Events moved with startling speed during the Salem trials
SEVEN (EXCEPTIONALLY RELIABLE) TESTS • Spotting a witch could be tricky: luckily, the following tests could help decide if a suspect was innocent or guilty
The Protestant reformation • How a single act of defiance sparked a wildfire of destruction and religious reform that swept through Europe and changed the world forever
England’s Reformation • How doctrinal arguments in the fractious English church led to the creation of separatist groups with their own unique religious ideas
THE MARPRELATE TRACTS • In the aftermath of the Spanish Armada’s defeat, the religious debate turned nasty
Robert Browne • The story of the man considered to be the Father of the Pilgrims
LORD BURGHLEY • When you’re making trouble, it’s usually best to know someone who can keep you out of prison
Church, state & witchcraft • James VI and I had an obsession with witchcraft that bled into the doctrines of Church, state, and even the beliefs of the first generation of Pilgrims leaving England
THE KING’S IDOL • Meet the man who James VI saw as his intellectual equal
A continent gripped by conspiracy • Scotland wasn’t unique in the persecution of witches, but the role played by the crown was without equal
THE WITCH REDEEMER • Not everyone supported the idea of witch hunting
Pilgrims & wayfarers • How the revolutionary ideas of the Pilgrim Fathers shaped America – for good and ill
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING
FUR AND THE PLYMOUTH COLONY
England and Holland • How the Pilgrims found their way to Holland before their journey to America
The first American Pilgrims
Voyage to the New World • Having returned from Holland, the Pilgrims set sail for their new life in America
The voyage of the Mayflower • A disastrous start gave way to a 66-day ordeal of sickness, catastrophe and conflict. Discover how the Mayflower sailed out of the storm and into legend
Mayflower • Discover what life was like on board the ship that took the Pilgrim Fathers to America
Winter of desperation • The winter of 1620-21 pushed the Pilgrims to breaking point amid starvation, disease and the uncertainty...